iHeartMedia syndicated morning host Elvis Duran, host of Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, was featured in a profile yesterday with “CBS Sunday Morning.”
CBS correspondent Mo Rocca caught up with Duran at iHeart’s annual “Jingle Ball” at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Duran heard on 70 markets across the United States from his flagship Z-100, New York, told Rocca that he grew up wanting to be on the radio and feels a special bond with his listeners.
“We are in the friendship business. I think about you when you hop in your car in the morning. You’re either leaving a house that may be full of turmoil or going to a job with a boss you don’t like. But I have you for 20-30 minutes, and I can be your friend,” said Duran.
In a surprising statement and question, Rocca said, “Growing up, I remember big-name radio DJs. Now it’s kind of you and Ryan Seacrest. What happened?
Duran responded, “Radio isn’t what radio used to be. A lot of radio companies gave up on personalities; they just wanted to play music, it’s cheaper. That’s not good for our business. So, I’ve done everything I can to keep personality on a radio show in the mornings.”
We asked Derek “Big D” Haskins of the nationally syndicated Country morning show, “Big D & Bubba,” for a reaction to that statement and Duran’s answer.
“We love Elvis, but I think he simply forgot the other formats and their great national talents. Country, NewsTalk, AC, etc. are all benefiting economically and receiving strong ratings from those national shows,” said Haskins.
You can see the interview here.
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